I have been reading Super Crunchers by Ian Ayres.  The book explains how Google, Amazon, Capital One, Teradata and others are using sophisticated statistical techniques on massive databases to better predict customer behavior and increase their profits.

In addition to profit motivations, the book outlines other uses of these mathematical processes, including medical research, baseball scouting, movie production, book publication, wine valuation, and determining the best methods to educate our children.

The strongest challengers to these techniques are those who believe that their training and experience are better predictors of success than a mathematical formula could ever be.  However, more often that not, the mathematicians outperform the humans in terms of predictive ability.

The book has me wondering...are there churches out there that are using statistical analysis to help them increase their effectiveness?  If so, what kind of analysis is being performed? 

There must be a way to use these kind of techniques to help grow the body of Christ.  Could we analyze what kind of programs lead to better outreach?  Perhaps we can determine what Bible studies attract greater attendance?  Is there some way to crunch the numbers to help people step out on faith and increase their generosity? 

Clearly, finding church leaders who possess the skills to do these types of calculations could be a challenge, along with gathering enough data to draw reasonable conclusions.  However, it seems that if we ask the right questions of the available data, then we may have some ability to improve the way that churches operate.

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